Method of and system for providing a low drag garment

Abstract

A method of providing a garment with low aerodynamic drag for an individual person includes providing a database containing data relating to the aerodynamic performance of a plurality of garments when worn by a plurality of persons having different adopted body shapes, determining the adopted body shape of the individual person, and entering data relating to the adopted body shape of the individual person into a computer. The database is interrogated to identify a set of aerodynamic performance data relating to garments worn by a person having a similar adopted body shape to the individual person. The computer compares the aerodynamic performance data of the garments in the identified data set, selects from the identified data set a garment having a relatively low aerodynamic drag, looks up in the database the characteristics of the selected garment, and uses at least some of the characteristics of the selected garment to provide a garment for the individual person.

1 . A method of providing a garment with low aerodynamic drag for an individual person, the method comprising (a) providing a database comprising data relating to (i) a plurality of different adopted body shapes and (ii) one or more garments that provide a low aerodynamic drag with each of the plurality of adopted body shapes, (b) determining an adopted body shape of the individual person, (c) entering data relating to the adopted body shape of the individual person into a computer, (d) interrogating the database by means of the computer and identifying from the plurality of adopted body shapes at least one adopted body shape that is similar to the adopted body shape of the individual person, (e) selecting from the database at least one garment having a low aerodynamic drag with the identified adopted body shape, (f) looking up in the database one or more characteristics of the selected garment, and (g) providing a garment for the individual person that matches one or more characteristics of the selected garment. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the database includes data relating to one or more characteristics of the garments selected from: the type of garment, the design, size and/or relative dimensions of the garment, the position of one or more seams in the garment, the type, texture and/or permeability of the fabric forming the garment, or any three dimensional pattern applied to the surface of the fabric. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the database comprises data relating to the aerodynamic performance of a plurality of garments at a range of different airspeeds, and wherein selecting a garment having a relatively low aerodynamic drag includes selecting an airspeed from the range of different airspeeds. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the database comprises data relating to the aerodynamic performance of a plurality of garments at a range of different performance cadences, and wherein selecting a garment having a relatively low aerodynamic drag includes selecting a performance cadence from the range of different performance cadences. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the database comprises data relating to a plurality of garment components, and wherein the method includes selecting a plurality of garment components, each having a low aerodynamic drag with an identified adopted body shape, and providing a garment for the individual person by combining garment components that match one or more characteristics of the selected garment components. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein determining the adopted body shape of the individual person includes obtaining a three dimensional scan of the adopted body shape of the individual person. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the adopted body shape of the individual person is determined while the individual person is in a posture that is adopted while engaging in a specific sporting activity. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , including creating the database that comprises data relating to a plurality of different adopted body shapes and one or more garments that provide low aerodynamic drag with each of the plurality of adopted body shapes. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein creating the database includes performing a series of wind tunnel tests to determine the aerodynamic performance of a plurality of garments when worn by a plurality of persons having different adopted body shapes, and storing data relating to the aerodynamic performance of the garments in a database. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein performing a series of wind tunnel tests includes changing individual garment components to determine the effect of those garment components on the aerodynamic performance of garment comprising a plurality of garment components. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein creating the database includes determining the aerodynamic performance of a plurality of garments by computational fluid dynamics. 
     
     
         12 . A system for providing a garment with low aerodynamic drag for an individual person, the system comprising a database including data relating to a plurality of different adopted body shapes and one or more garments that provide a low aerodynamic drag with each of the plurality of adopted body shapes, a measuring apparatus for determining the adopted body shape of the individual person, and a computer comprising data input means for entering data relating to the adopted body shape of the individual person into the computer, the computer being configured to (i) interrogate the database and identify from the plurality of adopted body shapes at least one adopted body shape that is similar to the adopted body shape of the individual person, (ii) select from the database at least one garment having a low aerodynamic drag with the identified adopted body shape, (iv) look up in the database one or more characteristics of the selected garment, and (v) provide a garment for the individual person by matching one or more characteristics of the selected garment. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 12 , further including a shape capturing device that is configured to obtain a three dimensional scan of the individual person so as to determine the adopted body shape of the individual person. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 12 , further including a wind tunnel and sensing apparatus configured for performing a series of wind tunnel tests to determine the aerodynamic performance of a plurality of garments with each of a plurality of adopted body shapes. 
     
     
         15 . A system for providing a garment with low aerodynamic drag for an individual person, the system comprising a database including data relating to a plurality of different adopted body shapes and one or more garments that provide a low aerodynamic drag with each of the plurality of adopted body shapes, a measuring apparatus for determining the adopted body shape of the individual person, and a computer configured to (i) interrogate the database and identify from the plurality of adopted body shapes at least one adopted body shape that is similar to the adopted body shape of the individual person, (ii) select from the database at least one garment having a low aerodynamic drag with the identified adopted body shape, (iv) look up in the database one or more characteristics of the selected garment, and (v) provide a garment for the individual person by matching one or more characteristics of the selected garment. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a shape capturing device that is configured to obtain a three dimensional scan of the individual person so as to determine the adopted body shape of the individual person. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a wind tunnel and sensing apparatus configured for performing a series of wind tunnel tests to determine the aerodynamic performance of a plurality of garments with each of a plurality of adopted body shapes.